Description
Chicken pesto pasta is a flavorful and vibrant dish that combines tender chicken, creamy pesto sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta for a delightful meal. This recipe is not only quick to prepare but also allows for customization to suit your taste preferences. Ideal for weeknight dinners or impressing guests, each bite promises a burst of fresh basil and rich Parmesan flavor that will leave everyone craving more.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- 12 oz pasta (fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti)
- 1 cup pesto sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ? cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients by chopping as needed.
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ? cup of pasta water, then drain.
- In a skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper and cook for about 7 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked through. Slice into strips.
- Add drained pasta and pesto sauce to the skillet with the chicken. Stir gently, adding reserved pasta water as necessary for creaminess.
- Serve topped with grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: skillet cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approximately 350g)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 570mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 90mg